This week, brands confronted a new reality. Emotion spreads faster than strategy. Discovery is migrating to AI platforms. Cultural narratives are written in real time by audiences, not companies. Frida turned Mardi Gras spectacle into postpartum advocacy while measuring backlash against its brand personality. A baby monkey and his IKEA plushie revealed how quickly culture
This week’s stories reveal a shared reality marketers can no longer avoid: trust has become a visible line item. AI makes content faster, cheaper, and more abundant, but it also introduces friction, skepticism, and new forms of brand risk. From uncanny AI video to staged paparazzi moments, from museum-worthy IKEA furniture to Wikipedia’s human proof-of-work,
The Marketer’s Storybook just hit 1,000 subscribers—thank you! Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined, I’m so grateful to share this space with a community that loves bold ideas, sharp insights, and great storytelling as much as I do. This week’s edition is a crash course in how brands are breaking the
On Sunday, May 10, Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, announced the country’s next steps for COVID-19. As part of the presentation, the Prime Minister introduced a new color-coded COVID-19 alert system. Little did the PM know that the internet would liken it to Nando’s famous Peri-Ometer! Nando’s is a popular fast-casual restaurant, with locations
Working in social media over the years, I thought I had a handle on wacky holiday occasions and memes. That is, until I moved to London and was introduced to #EdBallsDay. Morning all and Happy Ed Balls Day. Just spotted this at Balham. #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/rN6Rm5fiQN — Andy Lang (@HRH_Duke_of_Url) April 28, 2015 So, what exactly